p. 12 | MARYLAND | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 3, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 56.

MARYLAND.

THE imprisonment of orderly, honest, and respected citizens in Maryland, on account of their faith, brings to mind a contrast between her former and present politics. In 1649, while a colony of Great Britain, religious toleration was enacted for all Christian sects and churches excepting those who denied the Trinity. At the present time all are tolerated excepting those who keep the commandments of God. There is a State Sunday law, but all manner of people are practically exempt from its penalties excepting those who conscientiously observe the seventh day of the week. In one locality, at least, Shady Side, Anne Arundel County, they were recently mobbed for even holding religious services in their own house on Sunday. It seems that in that vicinity Sunday is deemed to have been made for Sunday keepers and non-religionists, and those who keep the commandments of God are privileged to live on that day only by toleration. Yet Maryland is a part of this so-called "Christian nation," and most of the other States have laws of which similar advantage may be taken whenever the enmity or jealousy of intolerant bigots becomes aroused to such a pitch as to prompt their enforcement. The following letter from a victim of Maryland injustice, now in jail at Centreville, Queen Anne County, speaks for itself:—

CENTREVILLE, MD., JAIL, Nov. 12, 1894. EDITOR SIGNS OF THE TIMES: It isn’t news to your readers to-day, but it is a crying shame, that in Maryland, and in other places as well, men who profess to be followers of the meek and lowly Saviour persist in persecuting others who also profess to be Christians. Our Lord gave as the sum of his law, “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Yet, in stepping out to keep God’s commandments in this land, where Brother Curlett and myself have lived nearly all our lives, and never were before a court on any charge, we are now in jail for exercising our faith in Almighty God. We are serving a term of imprisonment because, after we had kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, we went about our work on the other six days of the week. Two of the charges against me were for cutting wood at my wood pile, the same work that I have done many times for half the day on Sunday without protest—until I joined myself with a few others who are willing to follow the commandments of God rather than the traditions of men.

We feel to praise God that, though we have been separated from our families and robbed of our liberty by being thrust in jail, he will never leave us nor forsake us. He has said it, and we know that it is true. The sheriff and family are all very kind and generous in providing for our comfort. Yours in the blessed hope, R. R. WHALEY.